Neurochemical anatomy of movement disorders

Recent advances in our understanding of the neurochemical anatomy of the pyramidal and extrapyramidal motor systems have led to more logical and effective pharmacotherapies for movement disorders. Our knowledge of the neurochemistry of Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases is the most complete. In the future, the same approaches used in these diseases need to be used on the somewhat less common disorders such as progressive supranuclear palsy, dystonia, Tourette's syndrome, and cerebellar ataxias. Postmortem neurochemical analyses of these diseases should be exciting and will improve our overall understanding of the neurochemistry of movement disorders. The second area that is moving rapidly is investigations of the role of neuropeptides and the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. These agents are in high concentrations in motor pathways and projection areas. Further elucidation of their functional roles in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of basal ganglia diseases should provide new approaches and therapies for motor disorders.